Derek Anderson heard his share of boos in Cleveland despite providing Browns fans with one of the best offensive seasons in 20 years.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Mike Holmgren has stated emphatically that he doesn't want a quarterback competition. But the drama at the position continues on a club that has had eight different opening day starting quarterbacks in 11 seasons.

League sources continue to speculate that Holmgren may have another QB move up his long sleeve. If he adds another quarterback -- and it might not be of the splash of Donovan McNabb or even Kevin Kolb -- it could signal the end of Quinn in Cleveland, too.

The reluctance of Holmgren, General Manager Tom Heckert or coach Eric Mangini to state Quinn's role on the team says it all.

Quinn hasn't gotten a ton of feedback from Holmgren or anyone else, a source said. At least he's met with Holmgren, albeit briefly. Anderson never did have a sit-down since Holmgren was named president on Jan. 5.

Holmgren is calling the shots on the quarterback makeover. He is not indecisive. Outside the media room at the NFL Scouting Combine last week, Holmgren was asked if he knows in his mind the finished product of what he needs at quarterback for 2010.

"What it takes and kind of the picture of the guy? Yeah," he replied.

Anderson's bulky contract situation greased his exodus, of course. He was owed a $2 million roster bonus on March 19 and a $7.45 million base salary in 2010. That's the level of pay for an established, upper-level NFL starting quarterback, and Anderson had certainly descended from those ranks in the two seasons following his Pro Bowl season in 2007.

In retrospect, that storybook year for Anderson changed the Browns' fortunes in ways nobody envisioned. It also padded the fortunes of several men.

Anderson rescued the team in 2007 when he took over for starter Charlie Frye in the second half of the season opener. Unburdened by a nagging, pre-season competition with Frye, Anderson materialized, seemingly out of nowhere, to have a Pro Bowl season.

He won 10 of his 15 starts, threw for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdowns (against 19 interceptions), posted an above-average passer rating of 82.5 and earned a trip to the Pro Bowl after other QBs dropped out because of injuries. It was the best season turned in by a Browns quarterback since Bernie Kosar in 1987.

Anderson was scheduled to become a restricted free agent the following March. But rather than tag Anderson with the contract tender that would have netted the Browns first- and third-round draft choices in compensation if they lost him, Savage re-signed Anderson to a contract befitting an established star quarterback.

Savage later said he feared Dallas owner-GM Jerry Jones was planning on signing away Anderson with the intention of trading him to Bill Parcells' Miami Dolphins. Savage said he valued Anderson more than Dallas' low picks in the first and third rounds.

Savage signed Anderson to a three-year deal for about $24 million, including about $14 million in guarantees. Chudzinski received a three-year contract extension after Baltimore asked for permission to interview him as head coach. Crennel received a three-year extension after posting his only winning season. Savage later was rewarded with his own three-year extension from owner Randy Lerner.

Anderson's breakout year eventually had a negative effect on the Browns. It forestalled the original plan to turn over the team to 2007 first-round draft pick Quinn. That disrupted Quinn's growth as an NFL quarterback.

It was still Anderson's team when everyone returned for the 2008 training camp. Everything started unraveling in the second preseason game against the Giants when Anderson suffered a concussion and numerous other regulars on offense were injured. Most of the main playmakers did not play the following two exhibition games. The season opener against Dallas was like the resumption of preseason.

The 2008 season blew up in everyone's faces and at the end, Lerner fired Savage, Crennel, and Chudzinski. Each still is receiving paychecks from the Browns.

Anderson was never happy Quinn was named the starter for the 2009 season. He returned for a five-game stint as starter when Quinn slumped, then had the job taken from him again. Anderson returned for the Browns' final two wins with Quinn out with a mid-foot sprain.

In Anderson's three wins in eight starts last season, he threw for 23, 121 and 86 yards. His 16-19 record as a starter is by far the best for a Browns' quarterback in their expansion era.

On the day after the final game, Anderson declined to speak to reporters, commenting, "I have nothing good to say."

He already is being linked to QB-hungry teams such as Arizona, Carolina, St. Louis, Buffalo and Seattle.

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